Season 1 for me is just more charming, it feels closer to what my platonic ideal of poniponiponi would be.

>>43243468
that's totally fair! I definitely see where those with Season 1 as their favorite are coming from, its very cozy

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I pick S1 + The Return of Harmony, and I won't compromise. TRoH is a sequel to S1 using S1 animation before S2 properly kicks off in S2E03.

>>43243455
I don't really like to pit them against each other. Season 1 tends to be a bit more middle-of-the-road on a per-episode basis, it doesn't have quite the highs of season 2 but it has fewer really intolerable episodes either. In many respects it's the purest and truest treatment of the setting and characters (there are some really questionable depictions of some characters in S2, such as the OP image) but there are also some scattershot ideas that didn't really work and ended up as strange footnotes in the setting. On the whole season 2 tends to be more polished and entertaining moment-to-moment but >>43243468 puts it nicely, season 1 is the platonic ideal of pony even if it's not quite so sure what it's doing. They both deserve to be held in high regard, and they compete on different strengths.

I have to say though I can't understand why season 4 is anyone's favourite - it's not terrible or anything, but I'm finding myself unable to think of any really good standout episodes, the opener is bad and the finale is exciting but unfaithful to the spirit of the show and I find myself less and less fond of it as time goes by, and the overall direction of the show is just completely aimless, they hurried to try to wrap everything up in season 3 and then spend 26 episodes not knowing what to do with anyone, especially twilight. Plenty to like about it, but what is there to really love?

>>43243455
Oh, you made another poll for S1 & 2. Didn't notice this thread above the other one.

Well, I don't need to repeat my full series ranking here.
Instead, I'll just say that the main reason Season 2 is so high, and Season 1 is so low, is mainly due to Season 1's plotlines being *way* simpler, to the point of being kinda stupid in some cases. Meanwhile, Season 2's stories have a bit more depth & complexity to them; even if it's not much, it's often enough to elevate it over the kind of writing that Season 1 had.
Also what >>43243620 said about Season 1:
>There are also some scattershot ideas that didn't really work and ended up as strange footnotes in the setting.

Season 3 vs. Season 4 vs. Season 5 poll: >>43243472

>>43243655
>Season 1's plotlines being *way* simpler, to the point of being kinda stupid in some cases
Some of season 1's plots are pretty simple for 22 minutes and really suffer from not having subplots (Ticket Master, Bird in the Hoof, Applebuck Season, Look Before You Sleep)

>>43243455
>I'm predicting that Season 2 will win this poll
Very wrong so far lol

>>43243455
While season 2 is my favorite, there's something about the first season has a uniqueness to it none of the others managed to replicate.

Season 2 has some actual baddish episodes, where as season 1 doesn't have anything that offensive. There's some highs in season 2 but I think party of one and best day ever might still top any season 2 episode

>>43243455
As someone who loves season 2 i still gotta go with 1. The show production without awareness of the fandom is so genuine, simple, and cute.

By season 2 there are already problems. It's just that they are more or less contained so it's still very enjoyable. It goes downhill after though.

Only thing that stayed consistent was the music.

>>43243611
>S1 animation
Elaborate. I don't personally recall animation changes until season 4 or so.

>>43243611
Return of Harmony would have made more sense as the season 1 finale (since it has that flashback scene of Twilight remembering the lessons she learned in season 1), with Lesson Zero as the season 2 premiere (since it changes the status quo with how the letters are written)